Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong Shakes Off Slow Start for Unanimous 2026 NL MVP

Chicago Cubs player Pete Crow-Armstrong captured the 2026 National League MVP award on November 13, securing the honor in a completely unanimous decision. The 24-year-old standout beat Shohei Ohtani to claim the top spot after turning in a dominant performance during his third full MLB season.

Overcoming Early Season Struggles

The path to securing the most prestigious individual award in the league was not a simple, wire-to-wire cruise for the Chicago star. At the beginning of the 2026 campaign, Crow-Armstrong experienced a notably slow start that tested his resilience. Rather than letting those early hurdles define his year, he engineered a complete turnaround. As the long baseball schedule progressed, he found his rhythm and delivered a dominant performance that ultimately separated him from the rest of the pack. His ability to pivot from a difficult opening stretch to a commanding finish became the defining narrative of his season.

Sweeping the Votes Over Ohtani

When the final results were tallied, the voting left no room for debate. Every single voter selected Crow-Armstrong, resulting in a unanimous victory. By sweeping the ballots, he successfully defeated Shohei Ohtani, who was also vying for the top honor. Securing a unanimous win against a challenger like Ohtani underscores the magnitude of the turnaround and the sheer dominance the Cubs player displayed throughout the remainder of the schedule. A unanimous decision leaves no doubt about who the most valuable player was in the eyes of the electorate.

Rapid Ascent in Major League Baseball

The achievement marks a significant milestone in a rapidly developing professional career. The 2026 season was only Crow-Armstrong's third full year playing at the major league level. Earning the highest individual accolade in the sport at just 24 years old firmly establishes his trajectory. With the voting now finalized and the award secured, the focus shifts to how the young standout will follow up this commanding campaign when the team eventually regroups for the next season.